During a hearing on Saturday, House Judiciary Commitee Chairman Joe Vallario held up a bag of marijuana which he says represents the amount that would be covered under this bill. (WBAL's David Collins)

With just two days left in the legislative session, supporters of plans to loosen the laws against marijuana possession have apparently reached a deal with the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.

Baltimore City Delegate Keiffer Mitchell told WBAL News this morning that a deal has been reached with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Vallario.

Earlier this week, the House Judiciary Committee voted to form a task force to study legislation that would reduce the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana from 90-days in jail to a 100-dollar civil fine.

That language would have killed the measure until 2016.

.Members of the Legislative Black Caucus have been calling for the bill, noting African Americans are often arrested and put in jail for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

"It is my belief and others that we in good conscience cannot allow a task force to take place for two years, while there are racial disparities regarding the possession of marijuana and the arrests," Mitchell told his colleagues.

The House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Vallario had been fighting this effort.

On Friday, he asked delegates to delay debating the amendment and the issue until Saturday.

Vallario told his colleague that he had not seen Mitchell's amendment, but added "I know what's in it, and I can read between the lines."

Vallario then asked to meet with any delegate that has an amendment.

Vallario has opposed similar bills before.

Last year, the Senate passed a similar bill, and Vallario never brought the issue for a vote in committee.

Mitchell told WBAL News, that Vallario has now agreed to take the language requiring the study out of the bill.

The proposed fine would remain at $100 for first offenses, $250 for second offenses but the fines would increase to as high as $500 for third and subsequent offenses.

The Housae Judiciary Committee approved the bill this morning, by a vote of 13-8.

The measure would also require any offender under 21-years-old to be ordered to appear in court.

The House of Delegates is expected to debate and vote on the measure in an afternoon session scheduled for 3:30 today.

If the House approves the bill today, the Senate would be expected to take a final vote on the bill on Monday, the last day of the legislative session.